Truck for handling drums



March 28, 1961 EVANS ETAL 2,977,009

TRUCK FOR HANDLING DRUMS Filed May 18, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Kf' A? H JNVENTORS ALBERT M, E VANS, CLARENCE m JOHNSON A TTOP Y March 28, 1961 Filed May 18, 1959 A. M. EVANS ET AL TRUCK FOR HANDLING DRUMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ALBERT M EVA/V5,

QAEENCE W JOHNSON ATTOZA/E)" States TRUCK FOR HANDLING DRUMS 9 Claims. :(Cl. 214-379) This invention relates to a truck for handling drums of the type used for storing and transporting .liquid and other products.

It is an object of our invention to provide a truck which is adapted to pick up a drum which is lying in horizontal position, transport it to another place and then release it in either horizontal or vertical position, at the option of the operator. Our truck can also be used tochange drums from horizontal to vertical position.

It is a further object of our invention -;to provide such a truck which is also adapted :to pick up a drum which is in vertical position, transport it to another place and then release it in vertical position.

It is another object of our invention to provide such a truck which utilizes leverage .so that it is capable of being operated by only one person, even though the drums being handled may be filled with products and may weigh several hundred pounds.

It is particularly an object of our invention to provide a single truck which is capable of performing all of the actions set forth above and which is, at the same time, simple in its structure and operation and economical to manufacture.

Our invention also comprises such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by our invention.

While we have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of our invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of modif cation and change without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Referring to the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a side elevational'view of our drum truck in horizontal position; I I

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; I I

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the gripping handle construction taken on line 44 of Fig. 1; e

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the vertical hooking mech anism taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the horizontal gripping assemblies, partly in section;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale of our drum truck in use in vertical position pickingv up a drum lying in horizontal position; I

Fig. 8.is 'a front elevational view oi our drum truck in use in horizontal positionafter the horizontal drum has been picked up and is ready to be transported or released;

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view-of our drum truck in use in movement from horizontal to vertical position, showing release of the horizontal drum so that it moves into vertical position; i

member 13.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of our drum t-ru ckjin use in vertical position picking up a drum lying in vertical position; I L, Fig. 11 is a side elevationalview of. our drum truck in .use in horizontal position after the; vertical drum' has' v 1 I surrounds thelsleeve 32,,is se'cured to the shaft '39;

been picked up and is ready tobeatransported. I

Patented Mar. 28, 1961 I A preferred embodiment which has been selected to illustrate our invention comprises a drum truck having a pair of wheels 10, which are rotatably mounted on a pair of yokes 11 which depend downwardly from a horizontally directed flat wheel mounty12. An elongated handle member 13 extends transversely to the wheel mount 12. 'The forward end of the handle member 13 is attached to the wheel mount 12 adjacent the midportion thereof. The opposite end of the handle member .13 carries a transverse bar 14 which is adapted to hemanually grasped on opposite sides of the handle member 13 to manipulate the truck.

Extending parallel to the wheel mount 12 is an elongated crossbar 15, which is longer than the wheel mount 12 and which is spaced a short distance rearwardly and upwardly therefrom. A pair of angled drum supports 16 extend from adjacent the ends of the wheel mount 12 to the crossbar 15. I

A pair of hook members 17 have their midportions pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite ends of the crossbar 15. Each of the hook members 17 has an inwardly directed hook 18. The ends of the hook members 17 remote from the hooks 18 are connected to the outer ends of a pair of outer link members 19. The opposite ends of the outer link members 19 slidably receive the outer ends of a pair of inner link members 20. The inner ends of the inner link members 20 are pivotally secured to a link plate 21. The outer link members 19 are hollow and contain elongated coil springs 22 which extend between the inner ends of the inner link members 20 and the ends of the hollow portion. I

A pair of reinforcing braces 23 extend diagonally and are secured at their outer ends to the outer ends of the crossbar 15 and at their inner ends to the handle member 13.

A wide, fiat, arcuate rocking member 24 extends from the bottom of the wheel mount 12 forwardly to a rounded foot 25. A. pair of braces 26 and 27 respectively extend between the wheel mount 12 and the locking member 24 and foot respectively. I 2

An arcuate first-drum cradle 28 extends parallel to the handle member 13 and is spaced to one side thereof. The first drum cradle 28 is supported by a pair of legs 29 which are secured at their lower ends to the wheel mount 12. An arcuatevsecond drum cradle 30 extends transversely to the handle member 13 and is mounted on top of the crossbar 15.

An upending guide cradle 31 extends from the .foot 25 to adjacent the midportion of one side of the crossbar 15. The upending cradle 31 is disposed beneath the first drum cradle 28 and also beneath the angleduppermost part of the drum supports 16. The upending cradle 31 is a fiat bar which is twitsed outwardly toward the adjacent side of the drum truck.

The previously mentioned link plate 21 is secured to the top of a rectangular sleeve 32 which slidably surrounds the handle member 13. A hollow gripping handle 33 extends vertically downwardly from the sleeve 32. I The interior of the gripping handle 33 holds a coil spring Theupper end of the sleeve 32 remote from the'link plate 21 is provided with a hook 37. Spaced forwardly from the book 37 is'a locking member 38, which has a point 36 directed toward the hook 37. The lockingmem- 'ber38 includes a shaft 3, 9,'which is rotatably mounted in a pair of bushings 40. A release lever Alpwhich '12. "a flat knurled foot'plate 63, the purpose of which will be of the drawings.

release lever 41 is adapted to be moved forwardly to 1'0- tate the shaft 39 and pivot the point 36 of the locking member 38 toward the sleeve 32, A coil spring 42 ex- *ten'ds between the sleeve 32 and the end of the locking .member 38 remote from thepoint 36 to normally urge the point 36 away from the sleeve '32.

An angular support member 69 is disposed beneath the handle member 13 and includes a vertical portion 61 which extends at a right angle to the central portion of the handle member 13. The opposite end of the vertical portion 61 is connected to an angular portion 62 which extends diagonally to the back edge of the wheel mount The lower end of the vertical portion 61 carries -60 is raised ofi the ground.

If our drum truck is to be used to grasp and lift a drum 50 which is in horizontal position, the drum truck is moved to a substantially vertical position, with the handle member 13 extending in a vertical direction. This is achieved by tipping the truck forwardly until the wheels 10 leave the ground and the truck pivots on the rocking member 24 until the foot 25 engages the ground.

The truck is then in the position illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. V

The gripping handle33 is then moved toward the cross bar 15 so that the link members 19 and 20 pivot the hook members 17 and cause the hooks 18 to move inwardly and become hooked around the annular top and bottom marily protrude a short distance beyond the flat top and bottom surfaces 52. The link plate 21 is then in an over-center position with respect to the link members 19 and 20, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and the hooks 18 are thus efiectively locked in place, gripping the rims 51.

The drum operator then places his foot on the foot plate 63, which is in horizontal position, and simultaneously grasps the bar 14. The operator uses the weight of his body to rock the drum truck back on the rocking member 24 until the wheels 10 again engage the ground. In this position, the arcuate first drum cradle 28 fits beneath the side 53 of the drum 50 directly adjacent one of the annular ridges 54 which customarily encircle the side 53 and which are an integral part of the drum The drum 50 may be held in horizontal position by lowering the handle member 13 until the support member 60 again rests upon the ground. In this position, the contents of the drum 50 can be emptied into smaller containers which are placed beneath the drum 50 adjacent the tapped end. The drum 5% can easily be moved by lifting the bar 14 and handle member 13 and wheeling the truck along the ground in the manner of a wheelbarrow. 7

When the drum 50 is being moved, it is held by the hooks 18 and by the first cradle member 2-3. When the drum truck is in stationary horizontal position, the drum 50 is supported by the first cradle member 28 and by the drum supports16, the angled midportions of which engage the side 53 of the drum 59 adjacent the opposite ends of the drum 50, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings.

If the drum 50 is to be returned to horizontal position on the ground, the operator merely reverses the procedure described above. .The drum truck is first ro'cked forwardly into the vertical position shown in- Fig. 7 and the gripping handle 33 is then moved away from truck can then be backed away from the drum 50. I

edges or rims 51 of the drum 50. The rims 51 custo- I the crossbar-.15 to release the hooks 18 from the rims 5i.

If the drum 50 is to be released in vertical position, the operator starts with the drum truck in stationary horizontal position, with the support 60 resting upon the ground. The gripping handle 33 is moved away from the crossbar 15, releasing the hooks 18 from the rims 51. The drum 50 is then balanced at three points. It rests upon the first drum cradle 28 and upon the drum supports 16. The'bar 14 and handle member 13 are then elevated. The force of gravity causes the drum to roll in a forward direction, so that it is no longer supported by the drum supports 16 and its only support isprovided by the first drum cradle 28. Since the first drum cradle 23 is disposed adjacent one end of the drum 50, the other unsupported end'of the drum 50 starts to fall. As it falls, the side 53 of the drum 50 engages the twisted upending cradle 31, which is disposed therebeneath. The drum 50 pivots on the twisted side of the upending cradle 31 as it falls. This pivoting action assures movement of the drum 50 into a vertical position as it is released from the truck.

If our drum truck is to be used to pick up a drum which is in-vertical position, the truckis pivoted on the foot 25 to a slightly more vertical position, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. The gripping handle 33 is then moved toward the crossbar 15 until the hook 37 hooks over the annular rim 5]. which extends around the top of the drum 50. The point 36 of the locking member 38 engages the opposite side of the rim 51, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, to prevent accidental displacement of the hook 37. i

The operator then places his foot on the foot plate 63, simultaneously grasping the bar 14. The operator uses the weight of his body and the leverage provided by the foot plate 63 and handle member 13 to rock the truck back on the rocking member 24 until the wheels 10 engage the ground. The drum 50 is then supported by the hook 37' and by the second drum cradle 30, which fits around the side 53 of the drum 50 directly adjacent and beneath the uppermost ridge 54.

The drum 50 is released by rocking the truck forwardly on the rocking member 24 to the position shown in Figure 10 of the drawings. The release lever 41 is then operated to release the point 36 and the gripping handle 33 is moved away from the crossbar 15 to release the hook 37 from the top rim 51. The truck can then be rocked back away from the drum 50.

We claim:

1. A truck for handling drums comprising a horizontally directed wheel mount, a pair of wheels carried by and extending downwardly from said wheel mount, an elongated handle member attached at one end adjacent the midportion of said wheel mount and extending transversely thereto, an elongated crossbar attached to said handle member, said crossbar extending parallel to and being spaced from said wheel mount, a pair of pivotally mounted hook members carried by the opposite ends ofsaid crossbar, a sleeve-slidably mounted on said handle member on the opposite side of said crossbar from said wheel mount, link means connecting said hook members axis parallel to said wheel mount, said hook members and drum cradle holding said drum on said truck, a pair of drum supports extending between said wheel mount and said crossbar, said drum supports being disposed so as to engage and support the side of said drum only whensaid handle member is disposed in substantially horizontal position, a convexly curved rockingvmember extending transversely fromsaidwheel mount in the opposite direction from said handle member, a pivot foot carried by the opposite end of said rocking member, and a guide cradle extending at an angle between said pivot foot and the side of said crossbar remote from said drum cradle, said guide cradle being curved downwardly and twisted outwardly toward the adjacent side of said truck.

2. The structure described in claim 1 and a second arcuate drum cradle mounted on the top of said crossbar and extending parallel thereto, said second drum cradle being adapted to engage the side of a drum disposed in vertical position, and a hook carried by said sleeve, said hook being directed toward said wheel mount, said hook being adapted to engage and grip the upper end of a drum disposed in vertical position, said hook and second drum cradle being adapted to hold said drum in a position on said truck whereby the longitudinal axis of said drum extends substantially parallel to said handle member.

3. The structure described in claim 1 and a supporting member having one portion engaging said handle member and the other portion adapted to engage the ground to support said handle member when said handle member is in substantially horizontal position, and a foot plate carried by said support member, said foot plate extending substantially transversely .to said handle member, said foot plate being so disposed when said handle member is in vertical position that downward force exerted on said foot plate by the weight of an operator will act to pivot said truck from vertical to horizontal position.

4. A truck for handling drums, said truck including a crossbar, a handle member extending transversely to said crossbar, a pair of book members pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite ends of said crossbar, a sleeve slidably mounted on said handle member, link means connecting said hook members to said sleeve, an arcuate drum cradle extending transversely to said crossbar and disposed closer to one of said hook members than the other, said cradle being disposed so as to engage and support the side of a drum, said sleeve being slida'ole to pivot said hook members into engaging relation with the ends of the drum having its longitudinal axis extending parallel to said crossbar, a pair of drum supports disposed on opposite sides of said handle member, and a guide cradle disposed toward the other of said hook members from said drum cradle, said guide cradle being twisted outwardly toward the adjacent side of said truck, said handle member adapted to be moved to a more vertical position to move said drum supports to a non-supporting position with respect to the drum, whereby the end of the drum remote from said drum cradle will move downwardly and engage said guide cradle, said guide cradle guiding said druminto a vertical position upon the ground.

5. A truck for handling drums comprising a horizontally directed wheel mount, a pair of wheels carried by and extending downwardly from said wheel mount, an elongated handle member attached at one end to said wheel mount and extending transversely thereto, an elongated crossbar attached to said handle member, said crossbar extending parallel to and being spaced from said wheel mount, means carried by said crossbar for releasably engaging the ends of a drum having its longitudinal axis extending parallel to said crossbar, an arcuate drum cradle disposed above said wheel mount forwardly from said crossbar, said drum cradle extending transversely to said wheel mount and being ofifset to one side with respeot to the ends of said drum, said drum cradle being disposed so as to engage the side of said drum toward one end thereof, drum supporting means adapted to engage and support the side of said drum only when said handle member is disposed in substantially horizontal position, pivot means disposed on the opposite side of said wheel mount from said handle member from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical position to pick up a horizontally disposed drum, and a guide cradle disposed toward the opposite end of said drum from said drum cradle, said guide cradle being directed toward the adjacent side of said truck so as to guide said drum from horizontal to vertical position upon its release from said truck.

6. A truck for handling drums, said truck including a crossbar, a handle member extending transversely to said crossbar, gripping means carried by said crossbar for releasably engaging the ends of a drum disposed horizontally with its longitudinal axis parallel to said crossbar, an arcuate drum cradle extending transversely to said crossbar and disposed so as to engage the side of a drum engaged by said gripping means, said. drum cradle being disposed toward one end of said drum, and a guide cradle disposed toward the opposite end of said drum, said guide cradle being twisted downwardly and outwardly toward the adjacent side of said truck so as to guide said drum from horizontal to vertical position when said drum is released from said truck.

7. The structure described in claim 6 and a foot plate extending transersely to said handle member, said foot plate extending horizontally when said handle member is in vertical position, so that downward force exerted on said foot plate by the weight of an operator will act to pivot said handle member toward horizontal position.

8. A truck for handling drums, said truck including a handle member, means for releasably engaging the ends of a drum having its longitudinal axis extending horizontally transversely to said handle member, an arcuate drum cradle extending parallel to said handle member and disposed toward one side thereof, said cradle being disposed so as to engage and support the side of the drum, drum supporting means disposed so as to engage and support the side of the drum only when said handle member is disposed in substantially horizontal position, and a guide cradle disposed toward the other side of said handle member from said drum cradle, said guide cradle being twisted outwardly toward the adjacent side of said truck, said handle member adapted to be moved toward a vertical position to move said drum supports to. nonsupporting position with respect to the drum, whereby the end of the drum remote from said drum cradle will move downwardly and engage said guide cradle, said guide cradle guiding said drum into a vertical position upon the ground.

9. In a drum handling truck having a handle member and means for releasably engaging the ends of a horizontally disposed drum, an arcuate drum cradle disposed beneath and supporting one end portion of said drum, drum supporting means disposed so as to engage and support said drum only when said handle member is disposed in substantially horizontal position, and a guide cradle disposed beneath the other end portion of UNITED STATES PATENTS 113,719 Tower Nov. 18, 1902 990,936 West May 2, 1911 1,510,456 Cadwalader Oct. 7, 1924; 

